Willtam e



(No Model.)

WE. FITCH.

FIRE PLAGE GRATB.

No. 362,265. Patented May 3, 1887.

@mman D EE @FX/Rimane o N, PETERS. Pholn-Lihogmpher. Walhngton. D,C.

5o j, respectively. The bottom and front of the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

WILLIAM E. FITCH, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO THE PEER- LESS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FIRE-PLACE GRATE.

EPECIFICATICN forming part of Letters Patent No. 362,265,` dated May 3, 1887.

Application filed January 3, 1887. Serial No. 223,244. (No model.)

.T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. Frrcn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new andv usefnl Improvements in Fire-Place Grates, of which the following is a full, clear,` and exact description.

This invention relates to that class of heating apparatus commonly known as tire-place grates.77

The object of the invention is to facilitate the dumping of the grate, insure as nearly perfeet combustion of the fuel as possible and to permit the ready use of the summer front.

The-invention consists of a grate composed 0f slotted or barred side and back pieces and a tilting basket co-operating therewith and forming the front and bottom of the grate, substantially as hereinafter particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, in the several gures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a fire-place containing my grate. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line x .fn of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the grate,- its parts being disconnected, and a portion of the fire-place being also shown.

In constructing my grate I employ two side pieces, a a, of similar construction, excepting that one is a right and the other is a left. These side pieces are made with openings b and bars c, and are also provided with slots or openings d, whereby they may engage with hooks e in the fire-place jambs toV hold them in position therein and ont of contact therewith, as indicated in Fig. 2, to leave an airspace between the sides and jambs. The front of these sides issubstantially vertical, while the back slants at an angle of about siXty-ive or seventy degrees, its upper edge coming in contact, or nearly so, with the back of the fireplace. Bayonet slots or other appropriate openings, f, are made in the rear edges of these side pieces to receive the lugs g of the back piece, h, to engage such back pieces with the side pieces to lock the three together. This back piece is also made with bars and slots i grate are made in one piece, and for convenience are herein designated the basket k. This basket is formed with bars and slots lm, respectively. The bottom of the basket is provided with lateral lugs or journals n, arranged in the rear of the center of gravity of the basket, which engage bearings o in the side pieces. These bearings may be specially provided in the said side pieces, or may be simply cavities in the lower parts of the slots or may be simply the slots themselves. The upper front end of the basket is provided with lugsp, projecting laterally therefrom, which engage notches r in the upper edges of the side pieces to prevent the forward descent of the basket. As an additional precaution against such forward movement of the basket, the fronts of the side pieces may be provided with anges s, to receive the outer ends of the front of the basket; or the notches or flanges may be used alone for this purpose, or the anges may serve simply as a finish for the grate.

Then the parts of the grate are assembled, as in Figs. l and 2, it will be noticed Vthat the basket has its bearings in the rear of the center of gravity of the same; and hence the weight of the fuel preponderating in front will keep the basket from tilting backward. In order to tilt the basket backward, so as to dump the fuel, force has to be applied to the front of the basket, and when this is done the basket may be rotated on -its trunnions to any desired degree,4 even to the extent of practically reversing it or turning it upside down.

Vhen a summer front is employed the basket will be turned upside down, substantially as indicated in Fig. l by the dotted lines.

By making the sides, back, and basket with bars and slots, and by inclining the back away from the rear wall of the fire-place, and by setting the sides away from the jambs, I get a good draft or circulation of air aroundthe grate, and thus insure a practically complete and perfect combustion.

By supporting the basket upon trunnions at its bottom, in the rear of the center of gravity, the partial or complete dumping ofthe grate is very readily effected, and all the cinders, Src., are thrown rearwardly, thus keeping the surroundings clean. Heretofore the ICO basket has been hung from ils upper front edge, and has swung bodily outward, and only by considerable effort, from the Iire -place, causing much dirt about the hearth. My invention obviates all this. Itwill be noticed that no bolts are employed in connecting the parts of my grate, but that the sides, back, and basket are connected by interlocking devices. Great economy is thus insured in the first cost of prod notion, extreme facility in putting the parts together, and in dismembering the grate.

I am aware that it is not original with me to'inake the front and bottom of a grate, or, as I have called it, the basket,77 in one piece and to hold it so that it may be rotated.

I am also aware that it is not original with me to make the sides and back of the grate of bars; hence 1. A ire place grate consisting of side In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 35 'i my hand this 30th day of December, A. D. 1886.

WILLIAM E. FITCH.

Vitnesses:

CHARLEs H. GIBsoN, GEO. H. D. GIBSON. 

